CHAPTER VIITRANSITIONAL AND FINAL PROVISIONS

Article 22Transitional measures concerning specified risk material

1

The provisions of Annex XI, Part A shall apply for a period of at least six months from 1 July 2001 and shall cease to apply immediately following the date of adoption of a decision in accordance with Article 5(2) or (4), on which date Article 8 shall enter into force.

2

The results of a conclusive statistical survey carried out in accordance with Article 5(3) during the transitional period shall be used to confirm or overturn the risk analysis conclusions referred to in Article 5(1), while taking account of the classification criteria defined by the OIE.

3

After consultation of the appropriate scientific committee, detailed rules concerning that statistical survey shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 24(2).

4

The minimum criteria to be met by this statistical survey shall be those laid down in Part B of Annex XI.

Article 23Amendment of the annexes and transitional measures

After consultation of the appropriate scientific committee on any question which could have an impact on public health, the annexes shall be amended or supplemented and any appropriate transitional measures shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 24(2).

F1In accordance with that procedure, transitional measures shall be adopted for a period ending on 1 July 2007 at the latest, to permit the change-over from the current arrangements to the arrangements established by this Regulation.

Article 24Committees

1

The Commission shall be assisted by the Standing Veterinary Committee. However, for matters exclusively concerning animal feedingstuffs, the Commission shall be assisted by the Standing Committee on Feedingstuffs and, for matters exclusively concerning foodstuffs, by the Standing Committee on Foodstuffs.

2

Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 5 and 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, in compliance with Article 8 thereof.

The period referred to in Article 5(6) of that Decision shall be three months and, in the case of safeguard measures referred to in Article 4(2) of this Regulation, 15 days.

3

Each Committee shall adopt its rules of procedure.

Article 25Consultation of the scientific committees

The appropriate scientific committees shall be consulted on any matter within the scope of this Regulation which could have an impact on public health.

Article 26Entry into force

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

It shall apply from 1 July 2001.